Through angioplasty, our cardiologists are able to treat patients with blocked or clogged coronary arteries quickly without surgery. During the procedure, a cardiologist threads a balloon-tipped catheter to the site of the narrowed or blocked artery and then inflates the balloon to open the vessel.
Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used to open a narrowed or blocked blood vessel, which could be an artery that carries blood from the heart to the body or a vein that carries blood back to the heart.
The term "angioplasty" means using a balloon to stretch open a narrowed or blocked artery. However, most modern angioplasty procedures also involve inserting a short wire mesh tube, called a stent, into the artery during the procedure. The stent is left in place permanently to allow blood to flow more freely.
For some people, medications and lifestyle changes may be the treatment of choice — especially if only one artery is narrowed. In others, angioplasty may be recommended to open the clogged arteries — especially if chest pain (angina) due to reduced blood flow has not improved with medication and lifestyle changes.
Can atherosclerosis be reversed or slowed down? The disease is progressive, and, unfortunately, current treatments can't melt it away. However, there are things that can be done to slow its development and dramatically reduce the chances of a heart attack or stroke.
The key is lowering LDL and making lifestyle changes.
"Making plaque disappear is not possible, but we can shrink and stabilize it," says cardiologist Dr. Christopher Cannon, a Harvard Medical School professor. Plaque forms when cholesterol (above, in yellow) lodges in the wall of the artery.
Coronary angioplasty is a medical procedure in which a balloon is used to open a blockage in a coronary (heart) artery narrowed by atherosclerosis. This procedure improves blood flow to the heart. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which a material called plaque builds up on the inner walls of the arteries.
ESC: Amarin's Vascepa reduces patients' arterial plaque after 18 months of treatment. With its blockbuster hopes in question after a catastrophic patent loss, Amarin's Vascepa continues to pique investigators' interest over how exactly it cuts patients' cardiovascular risks.
In vitro (15–19) and animal (19–23) studies suggest biological mechanisms through which magnesium may prevent or reverse plaque formation and calcification.
That tiny drill can be used in concert with Shockwave, giving cardiologists an additional method to open up stubborn blockages. Shockwave can sometimes give new hope to patients who have been turned down for bypass surgery due to their heavily calcified arteries. It safely unblocks the artery while minimizing risks.
Coronary arteries with severe blockages, up to 99%, can often be treated with traditional stenting procedure. Once an artery becomes 100% blocked, it is considered a coronary chronic total occlusion, or CTO. Specialized equipment, techniques and physician training are required to open the artery with a stent.
Reopening a blocked stent can often be done in a single procedure. Sometimes, though, it is necessary to use a tiny drill to cut through the obstruction, or a balloon to widen the opening before deploying a new stent.
It takes around two hours to complete an atherectomy procedure with additional time for preparation and recovery. You will have to remain lying down for a few hours. Your hospital stay may be one or two days if all goes well.
Atherectomy carries the same minimal risks as other minimally invasive procedures. However, it is the only technique that actually removes plaque from the vessel. Some patients report feeling pressure or pushing sensations while the procedure is conducted, but typically no pain is reported.
Minor symptoms of heart blockage include irregular or skipped heartbeats, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Other symptoms may include pain or numbness in the legs or arms, as well as neck or throat pain.
Medical treatment, regular exercise, and dietary changes can be used to keep atherosclerosis from getting worse and stabilize the plaque, but they aren't able to reverse the disease.
The authors conclude that directional coronary atherectomy provides better clinical and angiographic outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease than primary stenting during angioplasty. They also emphasize that relatively large vessels are most suitable for directional coronary atherectomy.
In an atherectomy, the plaque is shaved or vaporized away with tiny rotating blades or a laser on the end of a catheter (a thin, flexible tube).
What happens during percutaneous atherectomy? You will be given a local anesthetic to numb the area where the catheter will be inserted. You will stay awake during the procedure, but will be sedated for your comfort.
Bypass surgery usually is the best choice for a blocked LAD. If the LAD is not blocked, and there are no other complicating factors, stents are more likely to be used, even if both of the other arteries are blocked.